Internal-combustion engine



March 24,1925. 1,530,539

A. B. BERNHARD I INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed July 27, 1921 4Sheets-Sheet 1 awe/whoa Jlberl 5. Bwvzard attorney March 24 1925. j 1,5305% A. B. BERNHARD INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed July 2 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 24. 1925. Y 1,530,539.

A. B. BERNHARD' INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE 1 File July 1921 4 sheets-sheer s Elmo/whoa 47 1266i? 51 Bern/Zara March 24.1925. 3053 A. B. BERNHARD INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed July 2". 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 III/ll Jilba'f/ Z3 Bern/z ard Patented Mar. 24, 1925,.

UNITED STATES ALBERTB. BERNHARD, COLUMBUS, OHIO.

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE Application filed Jul 27, 1921. Serial No. 487,975.

' a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in internal combustion engines, andhas for its primary object to provide an engine of the two cycle variety wherein improved features of design and construction are present for the purpose of effecting a positive introduction of the fuel charge into the cylinders of the engine and to effect this result in such manner that a thorough scavenging of burnt gases from the cylinders will be positively brought about.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of an internal combustion engine of two cycle construction wherein a pair of longitudinally. aligned cylinders is provided, the said cylinders being equipped with pistons rigidly connected for movement in unison by a slidable rod structure, the said pistons moving in opposition to each other in their respective cylinders so that the firing stroke of one piston will produce a compression stroke on the part of the other companion piston and vice versa.

A further object of the invention rests in providing an annular charge receiving compartment intermediate of the said cylinders, the'saidcompartment being adapted to receive a slidable charge controlling piston capable of being positively operated, at

predetermined intervals, from the crank shaft to the engine, and to provide cooperative inlet and exhaust valves in' conjunction with the compartment, said valves being responsive to the operation of the piston to admit the fuel mixture into the said compartment and to discharge the same into the firing cylinders of the engine at proper predetermined periods of operation.

Other objects of the invention reside in the provision of atwo cycle engine of simple, efiicient and compact construction capable of developing unusualpower and yet to be light in weightand small and compact in design; in providing automatically operating fuel inlet and outlet valves for the charge receiving chamber; in the provision of improved means for governing the operaview taken on the tion of thepiston in the charge receiving chamber and in various other details of design and operation to be hereinafter more particularly set forth.

From the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which similar characters of reference denote like and corresponding parts throughout the several views thereof:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through an engine constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention, parts thereof being shown in side elevation. I i j Figure 2 is a vertical transversei sectional plane disclosed by the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the engine.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 4- 4 of Figure 3 and disclosing moreparticularly the discharge valve structure for the fuel chambers Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken-through the fuel chamber on the line 55 of Figure 2. t

Figure. 6 is a detail sectional view disclosing the cam structure for effecting the lgperation of the piston and the fuel cham- Referring more particularly to" the "drawings, .the numeral 1 designates the engine comprising the present invention in its entirety. The engine consists generally of a crank case 2 and superposed longitudinally spaced vertically exten ing cylinder structures 3. The crank ca se is formed to include intermediate and outer longitudinally" aligned bearings 4, in which is rotatably journaled a suitably balanced crank shaft 5,the said shaft having its cranks provided with balance weights 6 of usual construction, and a fly wheel 7 is rotatably connected with the shaft and confined for rotation between the intermediate bearings 4, the

said crank shaft projects beyond the con-- fines of the crank case in order that its power may be transferred for the driving of any sultable machinery or apparatus in the ordinar manner common to power plants of th1s character.

The cylinder structures each consist of a situated in vertical alignment and are formed in waterjacketed cylinder blocks 1'0. These cylinders slidably receive the working pistons 11, which are united by means of a pair of working cylinders 8 and 9, which are rigid slidably disposed rod 12, the latter causing the pistons to move in opposition to each other in their respective cylinders 8 and 9, that is, when the piston in the cylinder 8 is moving downwardly to eii'ect its compression stroke, the piston in the lower cylinder 9 will be moving downwardly on its firing stroke, the connection between the ends of the rod 12 and the pistons 11 permitting of this feature of operation. It will be under stood that the upper end of the cylinder 8 and the lower end ofthe cylinder 9 are left open to permit of proper operation without undue fiuid compression, on the part of the pistons. The block 10 is formed'to include a vertical centrally disposed bearing 13 between the cylinders Sand 9 which is adapted. to slidably receive and to properly position the rod 12.

As shown, between the cylinders 8 and 9 and disposed concentrically and around thereof, the block 10 is enlarged as at 14 to produce an angular fuel receiving chamber .15, wherein is slidably mounted a hollow ring like piston 16, which through suitable mechanism is adapted to be vertically reciprocated within the confines of the chamber 15. As shown, the perimeter of the piston 16 is formed to include packing rings 17, and the inner wall of thechamber 15 is suitably grooved to receive cooperative packton 16 during its operation. Communicating with the chamber 15 are fuel inlet connections 19 for each of the cylinders 8 and 9, one set of the fuel connections being located at the upper part of the chamber 15 and the other set at the lower part of saidchamber, there perferably being two of such connections for each cylinder. It will be understood that the connections 19 may be connectedwith a common source of fuel supply, not shown, such for example as the engine carburetor. 1

Between the connections 19 and the chamber 15, the cylinder block 10 is provided with replaceable valve seats 20, which are adapted to receive inwardly opening valves 21, the said valves having their vertiealy disposed stems 22 slidably positioned within fixed bearing sleevesv 23, and springs 24 are positioned between the ends of the sleeves 23 and enlargements 25 on the ends of the stems 22, the said spring 24-serving thereby to normally maintain the valves 21 in engagement with the seats 20. However, it-

will be apparent that when the piston 16 moves away from the valves 21, a partial vacuum will be created within the chamber 15 which will serve to enable the valves 21 to open, againstthe resistance offered by their springs 24, under atmospherlc pressure. When thus opened, the fuel will be admitted into one side or the other'of the chamber 15, and when the pressure on the opposite sides of the valve 21 becomes balanced, the said valves will automatically close to retain the fuel charge drawn thereby within the chamber 15, from which it is delivered in a controlled manner to the cylinders 8 and 9.

This cylinder block is enlarged, contiguous to the walls of the chamber 15, to provide ducts 26 by means of which a fuel charge may be led from the chamber 15 to the heads of the cylinders 8 and 9. These ducts are normally closed, however, by means of antomatically operated discharge valves 27, which are arranged to engage the valve seats 28 surrounding ports formed in the walls of the chamber 15, the said valves 27 by engaging with the seats 28 normally close said port so that fluid communication between the chamber 15 and the ducts 26 is normally closed. The valves 27 are provided with stems 29 which are arranged to be received within removable plugs 30 suitable secured in the enlargements of the cylinder casing 10. The plugs 30 are provided with casings 31-, wherein are housed springs 32, which surround the outer ends of the stems 29 and cooperate therewith, as shown, to maintain the said valves in their seated positions. By this construction it will be apparent. that upon movement of the piston 16 toward the outwardly opening valves 27, fluid pressure will be exercised upon said Valves so' as to cause the latter to uncover their respective ports, thus enabling the piston to forcibly operate to cause a positive flow of the fuel charge therein into the duct 26, and then into the cylinders 8 and 9.,

It will be understood that the fuel charge delivered to-the cylinders 8 and 9 will be subjected to the usual action of the pistons 11, that is, when the fuel is drawn into the working cylinders, one piston will advance to compress the charge, while the other will be moving outwardly on its firing stroke. The cylinders 8 and 9 are provided with exhaust ports 33 which aresituated in such relation with respect to the pistons 11 that when the latter have been moved outwardly to the extreme limit afforded by their expansion strokes, the ports 33 will be uncovered to permit of the exhaust or escape of the consumed or burnt fuel charge. A thorough scavenging of the cylinders is secured by reason of the fact that when the pistons move on their expansion strokes, high pressures will be created in the heads of the working cylinders which will act upon the valves 27 to maintain the latter in theirseated positions, however, when the pistons reach a osition initially beginning to uncover the ex iaust ports 33, the piston 16 will be sud ii the valve 27 to admit a fresh fuel charge,

' the chamber 15.

by the fact that the internal pressures within the cylinders has been diminished by the partial uncovering of the exhaust ports. It will be apparent that the forcible inrushing of the fresh fuel charge will cause the burnt gases to be forcibly ejected from the exhaust ports before the latter are again covered by the inward movement of the pistons on their compression strokes. Since the piston 16 is quickly operated to force a fuel charge into the working cylinders, it follows that its operation will also be equally effective and wiprompt in the opening of the inlet valve 21,

a feature which insures a quick inrush of the fuel charge into the chamber 15, thus insuring a proper intake of the fuel with each operation of the piston. The heads of the cylinders may be provided with suitable spark plugsB l, capable of producing the necessary spark to explode the charge when the said pistons 11 reach the limits of their compression strokes- To effect the'positive operation of the piston '16 for each cylinder block the crank shaft is provided with a cam 35, which is adapted for cooperation with rollers 36 carried by a U shaped yoke 37. This yoke is pivoted as at 38, in order that the rotation of the cam 35, in unison with the crank shaft will result in oscillating the yoke 37. at predetermined periods. The cam is of triangular configuration, and its construction and timing is such that the piston 16 will be quickly raised and lowered man intermittent manner and maintained in repose at its extre1nity of movement within the chamber 15. The upper leg of the .yoke 37 is pivotally connectedas at 39 with the lower bifurcated end of a connecting link 40, the upper end of said link being connected with a cross pin 41, located in the sleeve 42 integrally formed with and projecting downwardly from the piston 16, the said sleeve being located within suitable bearings 43 provided in conjunction with the casing 10, and the bearings 43 are provided with slots 44 capable of receivingthe ends of the pin 41 and of suflicient length to permit of the rise and fall of the piston 16, the said sleeve 42 being provided with piston'rings 45 for the purpose of assisting in maintaining compression within The connecting link 40 may be suitably encased by means of a casing 46, carried by the upper part of the crank case. 2. In this construction it will be apparent that positive means are provided for effecting the movement'of the piston 16', and that by such construction the said piston 16 will operate intermittently and at proper intervals to draw the mixture into the chamber 15 and to forcibly expel the same from of the pistons 11 are united by means of the. usual connecting rods 47 with the crank shaft 5, so that the power developed within the working cylinders may be transferred in the customary manner to the crank shaft. Also, it will be appreciated that the cylinder casings 10 may be suitably jacketed to per mit of a sufficient water circulation, 'for the purpose of maintaining the engine at proper working temperatures. The lubricating system may be one of many kinds, however, it is proposed that a lubricant shall be drawn into the cylinder structures with the fuel charge, as this system permits of the lubrication of the pistons 11 and 16, and other cooperative movable parts, such for exam"- ple as the valve stems. The ordinary splash system may be used for lubricating the movable parts found in the crank case2.

From the foregoing description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, it will be apparent that the present invention provides an internal combustion en gine of relatively simple, compact and durable design, wherein an improved arrangement of the working cylinders is provided and also a very effective mechanism for introducing the fuel charge intothe cylinders of the engine and in exhausting the consumed fuel. It is by reason of this construction that the present invention is enabled to employ the two cycle principle of operation. That 1s, by the provlsion of the piston 16 and the two sets of inlet and" exhaust valves for each cylinder, a fuel charge of proper volume may be admitted into the working. cylinders to secure eflicient results and to insure a complete discharge of theconsumed fuel from the cylinders 8 and 9 by way of the double exhaust ports 33.- It-will be understood that the specific construction of the engine disclosed may not be strictly adhered to in carrying out the invention, but that changes in the relative area of the various parts or chambers of the engine may be madeor other similar alterations without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What lsclaimed is:

1. A two cycle internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder structure including a pair of working cylinders and an intermediately disposed fuel receiving chamber, pistons mounted for reciprocation within said cylinders, a crank shaft, connections between said pistons and crank shaft, a fuel controlling pistonmounted in said chamber, automatically operating valve mechanism cooperative with said chamber and operated by said piston within the chamber for delivering fuel to said. cylinders, and a posi:

-tive operating connection driven from said crank shaft for effecting the operation of the piston within said chamber when said pistons occupy predetermined positions in their respective cylinders.

2. A. two cycle internal combustion engine comp-rising a cylinder structure including a pair of longitudinally alignedworking cyl-' inders and an intermediately disposed fuel receiving chamber, pistons mounted for joint reciprocation within said cylinders, a crank shaft, a connection between one of said pistons and said crankshaft, a fuel controlling piston mounted in said chamber, automatically operating valve mechanism cooperative with said chamber and operated by said piston within the chamber for delivering fuel to said cylinders, and a positive operating connection driven from said crank shaft for effecting the operation of the piston within said chamber when said piston occupies predetermined positions in their respective cylinders.

3. A two cycle internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder structure formed to include a pair of vertical] aligned working cylinders, and an interme iately locatedconcentrically disposed fuel receiving chamber, a piston slidably mounted within said chamber, automatically operating inlet valves disposed in communication with said chamher and on opposite sides of said piston, ducts leading from said chamber to said cylinders, valves controlled by the movement of said piston for admitting of the assage of fuel from said chamber to said cy inders,

opposed pistons mounted for reciprocation wthin said cylinders, a. crank-shaft, a connecting link between said crank shaft and one of said opposed pistons, and a positive operating connection operated by said crank shaft for reciprocating said valve controlling piston when either of said opposed pistons assumes a position substantially unpiston disposed for reciprocation within said chamber, automatically operating inlet and exhaust valves communlcating with said chamber and disposed on opposite sides of saidpiston and whereby upon the operation of the latter, fuel will be drawn into said chamber and thence into said cylinders, a crank shaft, a connecting link between said shaft and one of said pistons, a cam carried by said crank shaft, an arcuate rocker arm cooperative with said cam for engagement therewith at predetermined intervals, and a rod uniting said rocker arm with said valve operating piston.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ALBERT B. BERNHARD. 

